EIDEA will have a booth at Iowa's largest indoor tack swap, where you can consign your unwanted tack and riding attire, while mixing with horse people from all over Eastern Iowa. There will be bargains galore and lots of fun! This is a key fundraiser for our 2019 programming. To add your items to the sale, download the Inventory List and instructions here.

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One of the most important traits we can cultivate for ourselves and our horses is confidence. If you think confidence comes innately or only from success, EIDEA Board Member and FEI Trainer and Rider in both Eventing and Dressage, Andria Pooley-Ebert of Bent Creek Farm has some amazing insights to share with you. Andria will help us unpack how our self-talk impacts our progress, and how we can cultivate the positive self-talk habits that will help shape our confidence, and improve our performance as athletes. Demonstration rides and self-talk coaching will be included.

Tuesday, April 2, 7pm / Live via Google Hangout

FEI trainer, German F.N. "Trainer A" and internationally renowned biomechanics expert, Dave Thind suffered a devastating back injury as a Grand Prix Jumping competitor. Dave will share his journey of returning to riding by reeducating his body through movement techniques such as Feldenkrais to achieve a more effortless, pain free performance in the saddle. The result of his work is the Dave Thind Method, a suite of cutting edge learning tools for riders. Dave will be giving us a mini mat class to explore body awareness. Tune into this Hangout with a yoga mat and comfy clothes. Dave Thind is featured on dressageclinic.com and is the owner of Aspire Farm in Boston. This is an exclusive EIDEA event!

Do you know how to respond when a rider falls or is injured?  Program Manager for LifeGuard Air Ambulance and adjunct instructor for the Kirkwood Paramedic Program Cathy Ross-Garron will present a hands on workshop to help prepare you to handle a variety of mishaps that make riding statistically one of the highest injury incident sports around. We encourage all riders, parents, trainers, barn owners and managers to join us. Let’s all be prepared!

Tuesday, June 4, 7pm (6:30 Social Time) / Location TBD

EIDEA member and international competitive carriage driver, Michelle Blackler of Blacker Equestrian will give us an overview of this beautiful traditional sport. Her love of the art of driving is evident in how she describes her sport, "The horse drawn carriage is a most perfect time machine. The lyrical hoof beats on the road are an ode to the horse's ancestors: servants of agriculture, industry, war and kings. Holding the reins on one's hand is holding a link to our own forebears who built the roads, farmed the land, fought for the rights of future generations." Join us for this extraordinary learning opportunity with Michelle!

CEO and Co-Founder Heidi Zorn is an inspiring woman entrepreneur who started Premier in 2000 to solve one of the most crucial needs of our sport -- better footing and arena products. Today, Premier is the North American leader in arenas with a "who's who" list of clients. Zorn is a widely quoted expert on footing, a consultant to USDF and USEF and a dressage rider! Heidi will be flying in from Premier's Utah headquarters to present the latest research on footing and its effect on sport horse performance and health. She'll share with us best practices for arena building and footing maintenance.  A must for anyone thinking of investing in an arena or wondering how to optimize the footing they have.

First Week of October TBD, Live via Google Hangout

World renown trainer and international judge of both Dressage and Eventing, Christoph Hess, FEI "I" is the former head of Education for the German Equestrian Federation. Hess is a passionate teacher, trainer and author focused on the classical training pyramid and working with the horse’s nature. We will discuss his latest book, Ride Better with Christoph Hess, via live Google Hangout. Hess will join us from his home in Warendorf, so a time and date will be scheduled during the first week of October once we can account for time zones and availability. This is an exclusive members only EIDEA event. Multiple Hangout hubs will be established to accommodate as many participants as possible. 

Our most fun event of the season is back! Hosted at the beautiful SpringRise Farm in Central City, Iowa, EIDEA's Ride A Test combines the best of Dressage show experience and clinic learning for an unbeatable training value. Ride A Test is ideal for first time test riders or veteran pairs looking to move up a level before debuting at a recognized show. All levels are welcome and encouraged.

FEATURING

• Judge Nina Denman, "r" of Des Moines who coached last year's Ride-A Test riders to RAVE REVIEWS!

• Cheese Tasting with certified Cheese Monger, Merrill Klemm.

• BYO Wine Tasting. To join the fun, please bring a bottle to share, limit $15 value, and your own cups or glasses.

• Best of Tasting Award to the bringer of the winning bottle!

Don't miss this fun filled day in the Iowa countryside combining the beautiful sport of Dressage with great tastes and good friends!

REGISTER NOW FOR AUDITING (FREE!) OR A RIDING SLOT ($40 for EIDEA members, $50 for non-members.)

Opening Date July 8,  CLOSING DATE SEPTEMBER 25. 

Tuesday, November 5, 7pm (6:30 Social Time) / Coralville Public Library

All members are strongly encouraged to attend this important Annual Meeting, vote for 2020 Officers and input on future direction and programming for their USDF Group Member Organization.  

A festive evening of looking back on the year's highlights celebrating our horses. A great way to cap off our year of learning. Bring your spouse, partner or a friend.